This presentation was part of a day-long symposium for educators and web designers to come together for talks about design principles, industry skills and standards as it applies to preparing students for careers in design.

2. Samantha Warren
Instructor at CDIA Boston University
Senior Web Designer at Phase2 Technology

3. Survival

4. “Graphic designers are expected to face keen
competition for available positions.
Many talented individuals are attracted to
careers as graphic designers. Individuals with
Web site design and animation experience will
have the best opportunities.”
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos090.htm#projections_data
"Keen” meaning there will be fewer job openings than job seekers

5. My Realization
...

6. 2 traditional schools
“Graphic Design” “Digital Media”
Adobe Cert
Print design
Computer Science
Identity Design
Software Dev
Advertising
Video Editing
Interactive Design

7. The Modern Hybrid
“Web Designer”
HTML & CSS
User Experience/ IA
Online Brand/Marketing
CMS understanding

8. Ideal
But not practical

9. Challenges
Curriculum
Bureaucracy
Ever-Changing
Technology

10. Organizations
are trying to help

11. WaSP Interact
http://interact.webstandards.org

12. Opera
http://www.opera.com/company/education/
curriculum

13. Focus on
Goals

14. Student Goal:
Get a Job

15. Goal Oriented
Concepts
Design Thinking & Process
Environmental Adaptation
Staying Ahead of the Curve

16. Design
Thinking

17. “Give a man a fish; you have fed
him for today. Teach a man to
fish; and you have fed him
for a lifetime”

18. Concepts
Elements & Principles
Design History
Brainstorming
Critiquing
Moodboarding
User Experience

19. Teach without
computers
As often as humanly possible.
I know... it’s crazy, right?

21. Elements &
Principles
The building blocks and guidelines of
successful design.

23. History
It doesn’t have to be boring
and it helps students to not repeat mistakes
(or at least recognize when those mistakes are being made)

25. Make History Fun
thinkingforaliving.org/archives/147
designhistory.org
design.sva.edu/site/series/show/2

27. Brainstorming
Coming up with ideas is a learned process.

28. Techniques
Listing
Mind Mapping
Metaphors and Similes
Sketching

29. Critiquing
A student’s ability to verbally express their thought
process is one of the most overlooked but
important points to focus on before entering the
design workforce.

30. http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/03/02/web-design-criticism-a-how-to/

31. Describe: What am I looking at?
Analyze: How are the elements &
Principles of Design being used?
(print a cheat sheet)
Interpret: What are the goals?
Judge: Are those goals being met?

32. Moodboarding
Introducing to students the concept of
collaborating with clients

33. Moodboard by jaynawallace.com

37. User Experience
Introducing students to the concept of “users”.

39. Environmental
Adaptation

40. Wonderfactory http://www.designsdelight.com/office-interior-design/office-interior-design-office-design-office-designs/

41. nclud http://www.flickr.com/photos/mringlein/3749761661

42. Ogilvy PR

43. “ In school we had 3 weeks to
do what I am being asked to do
in just 3 hours.”

44. “I was taught to do this in
Fireworks, not Photoshop.”

45. Fish out of water
Timelines
“Industry Standards”
Working with clients

46. Deadlines
Talk about time-saving techniques.

47. http://morris-photographics.com/photoshop/shortcuts/downloads/PSCS3_Keyboard_Shortcuts_Mac.pdf

48. Best Practices
The importance of know what is standard in the
industry vs what is standard at a company.

49. http://www.flickr.com/photos/benedikte/2821455542

50. http://www.flickr.com/photos/benedikte/2821455542

51. Clients
Without clients there would be no design work...
preparing students for the level of impact they will
have on their work is crucial.

52. http://nclud.com/sketchbook/logic-based-design-design-is-50-selling/

53. Shoot
ahead

54. Staying Current
Online Resources
Networking
Community Involvement
Conferences
Collaboration

55. Online Resources
Make students aware that there are constantly
discussions about where the industry is headed
and resourceful articles about techniques
everywhere online. Assign blogs for extra reading.

57. Networking
(Online & Offline)
Building network isn’t just important for getting a
job, its important for doing a good job. Have
students create an account on a network
or attend an event.

61. Community (Online & Offline)
The design industry is an ecosystem, those who
give will also get. Have students comment on blogs
for extra credit or post assignments to wikis.

64. Conferences (& Events)
Organize a field trip or keep a running list on a
blog of upcoming conferences to attend. Students
get discounts to most, take advantage!

66. Collaboration
(With Industry Professionals)
Bring in or teleconference an industry professional
to just say “ hey, this is what’s new”!

69. Goal Oriented
Concepts
Design Thinking & Process
Environmental Adaptation
Staying Ahead of the Curve

70. Additional
Resources
http://teachtheweb.com
http://teachmetheweb.org
http://aarronwalter.com

71. Thank you
badassideas.com
badassideas.com/resources
Phase2Technology.com